Switch-throwing device.



F. A. JOHNSON.

SWlTCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-2B, I915.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEBTSSHBET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTo-LITHO.. WASHINGTON c F. A. JOHNSON.

SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.28. 1915.

15136309, Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

HE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LlTHO-. WASHINGTON, D. C.

an STATES imr FRANK A. JOHNSON, OF DANVIIILE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNO R 0F ONE-HALF TO CHESTER IB.

- VAIL, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

SWITGH-THROWING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21 1915.

Original application filed May '14, I914, Serial No. 838,595. Divided and this application filed January 28,

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK A. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Throwing Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain's to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switch throwing mechanism, but more particularly to that class of the latter wherein the switch is controlled from the car by the operator.

One object of this invention resides in providing mechanism located beneath the car and controlled by the operator thereof, which mechanism will cooperate with other mechanism disposed adjacent the track and adapted to control a switch located in the length thereof.

Another and still further object of this invention resides in providing a mechanism suspended beneath the car for actuating the switch point in either one direction or the other, the car being provided with such mechanism as will admit of being operated in different directions according to the desired position of the switch point.

A still further object resides in providing a device which is simple and durable in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in use. I

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved switch throwing device, illustrating the disposition of the car carried mechanism and that disposed contiguous to the track for controlling the movement of the switch point; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the switch controlling mechanism carried by the car; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the track operating portions of the device, parts being removed to more clearly illustrate the internal struc- Seria1No.4,889.

ture thereof; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line ll of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 iS a transverse vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7'7 of Fig. 5.

In describing the invention, I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a track section from which leads a siding 2 and arranged in the track section at a point adjacent the connection thereof with the siding is a pivoted switch point 3 which is adapted to be thrown to its different positions by a mechanism forming the essential feature of this invention. Mounted on extensions of the ties of this track section immediately adjacent the swinging end of the switch point 3 and beyond the adjacent rail is a housing or casing 4 in which is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis, a bell crank lever 5. One arm of this bell crank lever at a point adjacent its outer end has a link 6 loosely connected therewith, said link being loosely disposed also through an opening 7 in the adjacent rail, the opposite end of said link having loose connection with the swinging end of said switch point. The opposite arm of the bell crank lever 5 has loose connection with a rod 8 which extends through the one end wall of the housing l and extends longitudinally along the outer side of the adjacent rail to a point some distance in advance of said housing 4. This rod 8 for the greater portion of its length beyond the housing L extends through a casing or tubing 9 mounted on the outer side of the adjacent rail. Also mounted on ex: tensions of additional ties of the track section some distance in advance of the housing 4k is an additional housing or casing 10 into which the forward end of the rod 8 extends. Mounted for oscillating movement in bearings in the housing 10 is a vertical shaft 11 carrying a crank arm 12 at the lower end thereof, the latter arm having loose connection with the last mentioned end of said rod 8. Mounted on the vertical shaft 11 at a point adjacent the upper end of the latter is an additional crank arm 13 which has its ends projecting in opposite directions beyond the shaft 11 and it is obvious through the actuation of this arm 13 that the switch point 3 may be actuated, in view of the aforementioned connections therebetween. Also mounted in the housing 10 in advance of the crank shaft 11 is a vertical stub shaft 14 which is mounted for oscillation in bearings arranged therein. This stub shaft also has a crank arm 15 carried on the upper portion thereof which is arranged in a horizontal plane just "above the horizontal plane of the upper crank arm 12 carried on the vertical shaft 11 and a link 16 is provided which affords connection between said crank arms 13 and 15, said link being connected with the extreme inner projecting end of the crank arm 13. From this construction, it will be seen that upon the actuation of the crank arm 15 in one direction, the switch point will be thrown in one direction to open the switch proper and upon the actuation of the crank arm 13 in the same direction, said switch point Will be thrown in the opposite direction or to its closed position. It is of course, assumed that the operation of both of said crank arms will be by the engagement of the outer free ends" of the same which, as clearly shown in the drawings, are disposed in close proximity to the heads of the adjacent rail. In this manner the crank arms may be readily engaged by a means carried by the car passing over thetrack section, as will be hereinafter and more particularly set forth.

It is desirable to provide some means for the retention of the switch point in its adjusted positions so that the jarring and jolting incident to the passing of the car over the track section will not dispose said switch point from its adjusted position and to this end, I provide a means for cooperation with the bell crank lever 5 to retain the latter in any adjusted position. As stated above, the link 6 which connects the bell crank lever 5 with the switch point 3 engages the arm of the bell crank lever at a point adjacent the outer end of one arm thereof. The extreme outer end of this last mentioned arm is adapted for engagement with a corrugated plate 17, the latter being hinged as shown at 18 to the outer side wall of the casing or housing 4-. A coil spring member 19 is arranged in this housing for engagement with one end wall thereof and with the hinged plate 17 forcing said corrugated plate rearwardly against the arm of the bell crank lever 5. In this manner, it isapparent that the free end of the last mentioned arm of said bell crank lever will constantly engage the corrugations of said hinged plates and retain the bell crank lever in any adjusted position. The adjustment of the bell crank lever through the various operating means hereinbefore set forth is against the tension of the spring-forced corrugated plate 17and thus when once adjusted the same will be retained in such position until adjusted differently by the mechanical means. The same will not be casually disengaged through anyjolting or jarring incident to rolling of cars over the track rails.

As the structure relative to the mechanism disposed contiguous to the track, forms the subject matter of my copending appli cation, Serial No. 838,595, filed May 14, 1914;, of which this present application isa division, said track mechanism has been herein set forth merely to illustrate one form of the latter best adapted to cooperate with the device carried'by the car, which device forms the subject matter ofthisapplr. cation and Will be fully described inthe manner hereinafter set forth. On a car 20 of the usual type used in street railway systerns, ahollow arm 21 is mounted on the under face of the bottom thereof and de- Slidably mounted in this hollow arm 10. Secured to this depending arm or housing 21 and projecting upwardly and inwardly therefrom is a bracket 24 to the inner end of which are fulcrumed a pair of j levers I 25. termediate of their ends and. the outer ends of the same are slotted and receive therein pins or'studs 26 projecting laterally from the inner ends of the tappets 22. spring members 27 are provided thesame being engaged with the forward portions of said lever 25, and with the underface of the bottomof the car whereby to normally raise the forward portions of said levers and retain the tappets normally in their raised'position. The opposite or inner ends of said levers 25 are engaged with flexible connections 28which are guided along the upper face of the car 20 to the forward end thereof where the same are engaged withthe ends of the arms of a bell crank lever 29. This lever 29 is fulcrumed at the junction of its arms on a vertical rod 30 which is mounted for oscillation on the platform ofthe car and projects therethrough. This vertically disposed rod 80 is mounted for oscillation in bearings the same projecting upwardly on the platform adjacent the controller of the car and a crank arm 31 is provided at the upper end thereof whereby the same may be readily actuated by the motorman or other person in charge of the car.

In operation assuming that the car is These levers are fulcr'umed in- Coil" about to approach the switch, should it be desired to throw the switch point to an open position, the lever 31 is operated in one direction so as to dispose one of the tappets to its lowermost and engaging position. In this particular instance, the tappet having the shorter furcations thereon is lowered so as to engage the crank arm 15 and as the car is moved forwardly, the crank arm will be swung to obviously dispose the switch point to its open position whereby the car may pass from the track section to the siding. When the next car approaches the switch and desires to close said switch so as to continue along the track section, the operator in control will dispose the operating or crank handle 31 in a direction opposite to that disposed on the previous car so as to lower the tappet having longer furcations and indicated in the drawings as 23. These furcations will at this time pass the arm 15 without interfering therewith, inasmuch as the latter has been disposed to a semi-forward position by the previous car and these longer furcations will then engage the crank arm 13 to dispose the latter forwardly and thus return the arm 15 to its initial position. By such actuation, the switch point will obviously be returned to its initial position and the car, continuing in its travel, will continue along the track section 1. Succes sive cars will of course operate the switch as is found necessary in a manner similar to that described above.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eflicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention and while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a switch operating mechanism of the character described, the combination with a track section and an object movable thereon; of a depending casing carried by the object, a pair of tappets movable vertically therein, the lower ends of said tappets being slotted to receive the head of a rail section when said tappets are lowered, means for normally retaining said tappets in their raised positions in the casing, and additional means for moving said tappets into operative positions, one at a time.

2. In a switch operating mechanism of the class described, the combination with a track section and a movable object thereon; of a depending housing carried by said object, a pair of tappets slidably mounted within said housing, said tappets having their lower extremities slotted to receive the head of one of the rails in said track section, a pair of movable members operatively connected with said tappets, spring means in connection with said members to normally maintain said tappets in an inoperative position, and other means in connection with said members whereby to bring said tappets into operative position one at a time, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a switch operating mechanism of the class described, the combination with a track section and a movable object thereon, of a casing secured to the bottom of said member and depending therefrom, said casing being disposed in alinement with one rail of said track section, a pair of tappets slidably mounted within said casing, and having the lower ends thereof slotted, means in connection with said tappets to raise and lower the same, means in connection with the last mentioned means to normally main tain said tappets in an inoperative position, and other means in connection with the first mentioned means whereby said tappets may be brought to an operative position one at a time, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

a. In a switch operating mechanism of the class described, the combination with a track section and a movable member thereon, of a casing depending from said movable member and disposed in vertical alinement with one of the rails of said track section, said casing having longitudinally extending slots formed therein, tappets slidably mounted within said casing and having the lower ends thereof notched for engagement with the heads of said rails, a laterally projecting stud carried by each said tappets and extending through said slots, horizontal pivot members loosely connected atone extremity with said studs whereby said tappets may be brought to operative and inoperative positions, spring means in connection with said members to normally maintain said tappets in inoperative position, and other means cooperating with the free ends of said movable members whereby said tappets may be brought to operative positions one at a time, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a switch operating mechanism of the class described, the combination with a track section and a movable member thereon, of a casing secured to the object and depending therefrom, said casing being disposed in the same vertical plane with one rail of said track section, a pair of tappets movable vertically in said casing, the lower ends of said tappets being bifurcated to receive the head of the rail section therein when said tappets are lowered, the furcations of one of said tappets being of greater length than those of the other tappets, spring means for normally retaining said tappets in their raised Copies of this patent may be obtained for .and'inoperative positions in the casing, and additional means for disposing said tappets to their lowered and operative positions, one at a time. I I

6. In a switch operating mechanism of the class described, the combination with a track section and a movable object thereon, of a casing secured to and depending from said object, said casing being disposed in the same vertical plane with one rail of said track section, a pair of tappets movable vertically in said casing, the lower ends of said tappets being bifurcated to receive the head of the rail therein When said tappets are locked, the furcations of one of said tappets being of greater length than those of the other tappets, horizontally pivoted levers mounted upon said casing, said levers being operatively connected to said tappets, spring means in connection With said levers to normally maintain said tappets in their raised and inoperative positions in the casing, and additional means cooperating With the free ends of said levers for disposing said tap: pets to their lowered and inoperative positions one at a time,'substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a switch operating mechanism of the class described, the combination With a track section and a movable object thereon, of a casing secured to and depending from said object, said casing being disposed in the same vertical plane With the rail of said track section, two of the opposite sides of said casing being formed with a longitudi nally extending slot, a pair of tappets mov able vertically in said casing, the lower ends of said tappets being bifurcated to receive the head in the rail section therein when said tappets are lowered,thefurcations of one of said tappetsbeingof greater length than those of the othertappet,laterallyprojecting studs carried bysaid tappets and adaptedto project through theslots in said casing, a bracket laterally offset from said casing, a shaft horizontally supported thereby, a pair of levers pivotally mounted upon said shaft, one end of each of said arm being connected to the respective studs on said tappets, "spring means in connection Witnesses:

HENRY J. HAL JOHN KELLY.

FRANK AQJOHNS N.

vfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. i 

